Mixer



Nov. 25, 1941. n.1. BROWN 2,263,917

MIXER filed July 9, 1940 Patented Nov. 25, 1,941

UNE-Ts, STAT 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for mixing a solid with a liquid, my principal object being to provide a mixer of this general character so constructed that a mixture of uniform consistency will be provided without any manual attention being necessary for the mixing operation, and in which the relative proportions of the solid and liquid may be easily varied to suit, according to whether a relatively wet or a dry mix is desired.

I have particularly in mind a machine to mix what is known as the putty coating material for plaster wall nishes, and another object of my invention is to provide a mixer of a compact and portable nature, capable of being ini stalled and used in the building being finished.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure l is a front elevation of my improved mixer.

Figure 2 is a side View of the same, partly in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section of the initial mixing unit of the apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the numeral I denotes the hopper for the solid material (such as lime) to be mixed, and 2 denotes a cylindrical container for the nal mix. The hopper is elevated relative to the container, and is supported from the floor by uprights 3. A chute 4, disposed radially of the container, slopes down to the adjacent side of the container from the bottom of the hopper, and then depends as at 5 alongside the container as a unit therewith to a termination at an entry opening 6 in the container near the bottom.

A discharge spout 'I slopes down from the opposite side of the container and communicates therewith near the top as plainly shown in Fig. 2.

A rotary agitator 8 is disposed in the container near the bottom, the agitator being connected to a laterally angled shaft 9 which extends some distance above the container and is there connected to a motor drive unit I0 mounted in xed connection with the container.

A relatively short material feed chute II, communicating directly with the hopper I at the bottom, projects into chute 4, the bottom of the feed chute being some distance above the bottom of chute 4. A water spray pipe I2 projects across chute 4 under the forward end of chute II, the pipe being provided with a row of small jet openings I3 disposed to spray water down the chute 4 for the full width thereof. A control valve I4 is connected to the pipe outside the chute.

A gate I5 to close chute Il is mounted for upward movement from a closed to an open position in a frame I5 upstanding from chute 4 in front of the hopper, movement of the gate being controlled by a hand screw II. The chute 4 in front of chute I I is open at the top for a certain distance as shown at I8, for inspection purposes.

In operation, the lime, etc., in comminuted form, is placed in the hopper, and when the gate is open, will flow through chute II and into chute 4. Owing to the specic position of the water spray pipe I3, the water spray will cut into the lime falling from the chute I I, giving an immediate and intimate mixing action, besides assuring that the lime will be properly sluiced down into the container. Once the initial mixture is in the container, it is subjected to the further mixing action of the agitator 8. Since no mix will be drawn from the container until the latter is nearly full, owing to the high level of the outlet spout, the thoroughly mixed condition of the product as nally withdrawn and used is assured.

Since the amounts of lime and Water fed into the mixing chute are constant, an ultimate mixture of even consistency is always obtained. Since these amounts may be independently controlled, by suitable manipulation of the gate and Valve, it is possible to obtain mixes of any desired range of wetness, as any particular job may require. Also, the amount of mix being prepared in any given time may also be controlled within reason and according to the rate of withdrawal, from the container.

The open chute opening I8 allows the operator to see the respective Volumes of lime and water as they issue from their respective sources, and enables him to more accurately control the volumetric ow.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fullls the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not Yform a -departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mixer, a hopper for a solid, a feed chute leading in one direction from the hopper at an incline, a mixing chute into which the feed chute delivers, the feed chute at its lower end overhanging the upper end of the mixing chute in spaced relation, said mixing chute extending at an incline in the same direction as the feed chute, and a liquid spray pipe projecting across the upper end of the mixing chute under the discharge end of the feed chute, said pipe having a row of spray openings therethrough facing away from the feed chute and in a direction lengthwise of and along the mixing chute near the bottom thereof.

2. A mixer as in claim 1 in which the lower end portion of said mixing chute is enclosed, there being an unobstructed gravity feed conduit leading downward some distance from the lower end of said chute.

HOMER P. BROWN. 

